Americans Relocating to Canada

Property Search | Living | Neighborhoods | Education | Transportation

Getting There

US citizens need a passport or a birth certificate plus photo ID to enter Canada. US permanent residents need their alien-registration card.

Toronto is a mere 90 miles by road from New York State via the Niagara peninsula. Drivers can take any one of the four bridges spanning the Niagara River and travel along the Queens Expressway to Toronto.

Consumer Prices

All economic activity in Canada is subordinated to their universal health care and generous welfare programs. As such, the cost for goods and services in Toronto is higher than comparable products in the USA.

Americans relocating to Toronto will find that the processed food prices in the discount food stores are a bit cheaper because of the current exchange rate, but that prices for name brand consumer goods are much more expensive. Americans will find that it's cheaper to buy Canadian beer in the states than at the local brewery.

Buying cheaper goods in New York for importation into Canada can have mixed results. Canadian Customs is very strict about collecting import duties on goods mailed or driven across the border.

Healthcare

Unlike the US, Canadian healthcare is nationalized. All Canadian citizens and legal residents are entitled to a basic level of service with no out-of-pocket cost. Major healthcare services (surgery) and specialty services (MRI's) are rationed and there are waiting lists for both.

While visiting, Americans are not eligible for free treatment under Canada's healthcare system and most US health plans will not cover routine services in Toronto. US residents have access to Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center across the border in Buffalo.

Currency Importation

The easiest way to move funds into Canada is to bring cash. Canada allows unlimited cash importations provided the funds are declared when the amount exceeds $10,000 CDN. Anyone exporting more than $10,000 USD from the US must report the transaction to US Customs.

Bringing cashier or personal checks drawn on US banks will cause delays in accessing the funds. Most Canadian banks will hold US checks (both personal and cashier) for 20 business days before releasing the funds.

Taxes

Tax Freedom Day (the day when your government tax burden has been met) in Canada is July 1 (compared to April 11 in the US). Toronto taxes services at the local rate of 15%.